NEUROPEPTIDE-Y POTENTIATES NORADRENALINE-EVOKED VASOCONSTRICTION - MODE OF ACTION

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 234  (3) , 735-741
Abstract
Neuropeptide Y (NPY), which co-exists with noradrenaline (NA) in postganglionic sympathetic nerves, was able to potentiate NA-evoked constriction in certain isolated rabbit blood vessels. The phenomenon was observed in the femoral, the gastroepiploic and the pulmonary arteries but not in the femoral or the gastro-epiploic veins or in the aorta. Thus, NPY potentiated NA-evoked vasoconstriction predominantly in muscular arteries with alpha-1 adrenoceptors. NPY-related peptides, such as peptide YY and to some extent pancreatic polypeptide shared this ability, whereas calcitonin gene-related peptide or LPLRF amide did not. The mode of action by which NPY potentiates NA-evoked vasoconstriction was analyzed using the femoral artery. Pretreatment of the vessel with cocaine, a blocker of amine re-uptake, or rolipram, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase, left the potentiation unaffected, whereas Na+ deficiency or ouabain, an inhibitor of Na+/K+-adenosine triphosphatase, abolished this effect of NPY. Nifedipine, a blocker of Ca++ entry, or removal of extracellular Ca++ shortly before the application of NPY had little effect. After prolonged exposure to a Ca++-free medium (with ethylene glycol bis(.beta.-aminoethyl ether)-N,N''-tetraacetic acid) the maximum response to NA was greatly reduced and the potentiating effect of NPY was abolished. Thus, the potentiation of NA-evoked vasoconstriction by NPY seems to depend upon the presence of Na+ but not upon a Ca++ influx. An intracellular sequestered Ca++ pool appears to play a critical role.

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